Clasp



(No Model.)

'BPRANTZBN CLASP.

Patented Apr.4 23, 1889.

N. PTERS, PhowLithugmpher, wzxhngicn. DA C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL FRANTZN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,880, dated April23, 1889. Application 'filed December 24, 1888. Serial No. 294,494. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL FRANTZEN, a resident of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Buckles or Clasps, of which I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description, 'reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention has relation more particularly to the improvementof that class of buckles or clasps designed for use upon Suspenders,belts, sleeve-supporters, and like articles of wearing-apparel, althoughit will be readily understood that it is applicable also to avariety ofother uses in which buckles or clasps are commonly employed. l

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and durableclasp or buckle the members of which can be readily clasped ordisconnected, which will occupy but very little space, and in which theparts or members, when connected together, will be securely retainedagainst accidental displacement.

To this end my invention consists in the novel features of constructionhereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

Figure l is a view in elevation of a clasp or buckle embodying myinvention, the buckle being shown as applied in connection with thestraps of a pair of Suspenders. Fig. 2 is a view in central verticalsection on line w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, butshowing the male and female members disconnected. Fig-4 is a view intransverse section on line y y of Fig. 1.

A designates one member of my improved clasp or buckle, which ispreferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with suitable means-as,for example, a loop, B-whereby it may be united to the article inconnection with which it is to be used. This memberA is provided withside flanges, a, preferably formed integral therewith, these flangesbeing bent up from the body of metal at right angles thereto. At thelower or outer end of the member A is the shoulder or offset c',

that will by preference be formed in one piece with the main body of themetal by turning over a portion of the end of the plate from which thebody is formed, as seen more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. Through the iianges a of the member A passes the pivot-rod C,whereon is mounted the retaining-plate D, this plate being provided withlugs d., through which the pivotrod C passes. If desired, the piVot-rodCmay be dispensed with and the lugs d may be passed through suitableholes in the flanges a to serve as pivots whereon the plate D can rock.Between the flanges a, and suitably fixed to the back of the member A,is the spring E, the free end of which bears upon the upper or inner endof the retaining-plate D, causing the opposite end of this plate to beforced inward, as shown.

It will be readily understood that, if desi red, the spring E may be xedto the retaining-plate D instead of to the member A, and so also acoiled or other form'of spring might be used instead of the spring-plateshown. The member F, which cooperates with the member A, is providedwith suitable meansas, for example, a loop, f-whereby it may be unitedto the article in connection with which it is to be employed. In thismember F is formed a seat or opening, f', of a size adapted to receivethe shoulder or offset a upon the inner side of the member A, and bypreference also this member F is provided with stop-shoulders f, adaptedto abut against the flanges o of the member A, and thus more securelyguard against any lateral .movement of .the members when connectedtogether. The upper or free end of the member F is preferably beveled,as shown, in order to permit it to be more readily inserted between theshoulder or offset a and the lower or outer end of the retaining-plateD, and by preference such end of the plate D is upturned, as shown.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that if the parts beassumed to be in the disconnected position shown in Fig. 3 they can bereadily united together by merely inserting the member F between theoffset a and the retaining-plate D of the member IOO A until theshoulders f2 of the member F abut against the ends of the flanges ay andthe seat or opening f is opposite the offset a', when the lower end oft-he retaining-plate D, being pressed downwardly by the spring E, Willforce the member F over the shoulder or oset a' and will retain thismember F in sueh position against danger of accidental displacement.Then it is desired to disconnect the members A and F, it is onlynecessary to depress the upper or inner end ofthe retaining-plate Dagainst the force of the spring E, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3,thereby lifting the opposite end of the retaining-plate out of contactWith the member F and permitting such member to readily slip from olfthe shoulder or oiset a. By thus employing a pivoted retaining-plateforced inwardly by a spring, as shown, l am enabled, Without makingavery thick buckle, to use a shoulder or offset, a', of such size as tohold the member F without danger of displacement. So, also, theemployment of this pivoted retaining-plate enables me to use a strongspring, E, While providing means for a ready compression of this springto permit the separation of the parts.

lt will be readily understood that the preeise details of constructionabove set out may be varied somewhat Without departing from the spiritof the invention. Thus, for eX- alnple, a shoulder or offset may be usedupon the member F instead of the opening` j", and in such Acase anopening similar to the opening f may be used instead of the shoulder oroffset a; or, if desired, the member F may be provided with a shoulderor offset adapted to ride above and engage with the shoulder or oiset a,in which ease the opening fmay be 'dispensed with. So, also, instead ofemploying a spring separate from the retainingplate D, such spring maybe formed in piece with or as a part of said plate, the object being torender this plate a spring-actuating plate, so that its free end shallretain the opposite member against accidental displacement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A buckle or clasp one member whereof comprises a plate, A, having at itssides the flanges a., and having at its lower or outer end a shoulder,a', in combination with a retainingplate, D, pivoted to and extendingbetween the flanges a to form the back of the buckle or clasp, andhaving its free end extending over the shoulder a', a spring, E, at theupper end of the said retaining-plate, and a member, F, lconsisting of aplate of a size to Iit between the flanges a, and having an eye or seatat a distance from its free end to en-

